Alameda’s chapter of the American Red Cross Youth (RCY) has been busy actively supporting community efforts. They packed special Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the homebound and delivered them through Meals on Wheels all around the Island. These young volunteers set up and took down aspects of the firefighters Toys-For-Tots program, took blood pressures at local events and cleaned cots used to serve the Santa Rosa fire victims. They visited local nursing homes and even taught seminars on disaster preparedness to children and their parents.

RCY had a great deal of success in fundraising last fall, raising some $1,500 — tripled by UNICEF — that helped refugee children and their families around the world. The money provided a water pump, a share in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, winter survival blankets, bed nets, nutrient food packs and prevention medication for deworming as well as polio, measles and malaria vaccines. The funds raised also purchased school supplies for more than 100 students and a bicycle.

In December, the volunteers wrapped gifts at South Shore Center for three days raising $850, which was given to the American Red Cross Bay Area for local fire victims.

“Thank you to all who support our Red Cross Youth,” said RCY advisor Joanne Robinson. “They will become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Alameda has 150 young people in five high school Red Cross clubs, each with a teacher sponsor that helps mentor the RCY. Club officers meet each month with other Alameda and Contra Costa County RCY in the Oakland office for more training in preparedness and blood-related programs from American Red Cross staff.